[jimbob70]

Any recommendations for things to do? where to snorkel or jetski?

Also how much should i expect to pay for taxi from airport to hotel near karon beach?

[PC_Man]

Try the forums on www.thai360.com

Likely to get better answers from people over or regularly in Thailand.

[jayinhongkong]

We went jetskiing right on Karon beach in April

[jimbob70]

Originally Posted by jayinhongkong

We went jetskiing right on Karon beach in April

Was it pricey?
Like to give it a go

[DaveD]

Karon Breach is really nice!
I have been there in June, the Moevenpick Hotel was really amazing.
For some reason, the island was pretty empty, but I liked it. We are in the rainy season, although it rained only when I arrived, the others days were lovely. You get very good deals for excursions and fun activities in / on water.

For Jetski on Kata Beach, I paid 1000 THB for 30 mins, that was really fair.
Nightfishing was also great fun: Boat incl. crew (captain, cook, instructor) was 5500 THB for the whole night, it's cheaper when you do this with others.
Rent a scooter for a day, you can experience many nice areas of the island - for only 200 - 250 THB a day, that's a real bargain. And most of them are brand new.

Taxi (Limousine) transfer from Airport is 650 THB to all hotels in Karon, the prices is fixed and it takes about 1 hour, depending on the traffic.
You can also get in a minibus, I think that is 250 per person - but takes longer.

Enjoy, Karon is a very nice place!!

[takamine]

Kata Beach is the one where you can snorkel. As you approach the beach, it's right down the right hand side. And some good stuff to see there but it's a small area.

Otherwise join trips, hire a boat etc.

[jayinhongkong]

Karon definitely rocks. It's worth getting a car with AC in the heat. A private taxi can cost you exactly the same as a tuk-tuk. We rode around in a Honda Accord for a pretty good price, and the driver took us wherever we wanted to go. We took him out for dinner after. Thai people are definitely really cool and friendly, but you have to show them respect. If you act hoity toity and superior, you will get beaten up. We saw that happen more than a few times while in Phuket Our tuk tuk driver hopped out and punched two French guys who were at least two feet taller than him in the face repeatedly. They were shocked. All they could do was speed away.

I remember hanging out with a bunch of Thais at night and there was an enormous machete on the table. We were pretty nervous about that, but they were gracious hosts and very friendly. IMO Thailand has some of the nicest people I've ever met anywhere. No place like India though.

[MikeLowrey]

I stayed at a place called the Karon Beach hotel three years ago when I went to Phuket. It's a great place, and it's only across the road from the beach. But the beach there isn't that great, the sand is rough and the water isn't as clear as I wanted it to be.

So my friends and I hired a boat for around 100 USD and some guy took us to an island about 30 minutes away on a boat ride. I can't remember the name of the island but it was like a paradise. The sand was fine, the water was clear and the sky was blue, and there are alot of things you can do on the island. We went jetskiing, took a banana boat ride, got our hair done, etc. etc. we even played a game of beach soccer with the locals, it was fun but we got sun burned pretty bad. The guy who was driving the boat was the funniest person as well, I hope nothing happened to him when the tsunami hit.

One thing I learned is that if you're planning to get a spa treatment there, make sure you get it before you get yourself a sun burn as I was in pain during the whole treatment, even when I was in the sauna

There was a great place called the Banana Club 10 minutes away from Karon beach, it's a two storey building and alot of tourist go there as well. I saw it on the news when the tsunami hit Phuket a couple of years ago, and the club was destroyed, I hope they've rebuild it because it was a definitely a great place to party.

And don't ever go to a place called Fantasea or Phantasea, it's a 45 minutes away by car and it's the most boring place you could go to on your whole trip to Thailand.

[jayinhongkong]

The Banana Club is open and the parties are back on in full swing

[PC_Man]

Actually quite enjoyed Fantasea - but only the show part.
Been twice...